John Wick 2 Viral Site Teases Continental Hotel Magazine

John Wick: Chapter 2 will be making its way into theaters in just a few short weeks. The sequel to surprise hit John Wick, promises to be bigger and badder than the first film — in the best possible way. The story for the sequel revolves around John (Keanu Reeves) fulfilling a blood oath as he faces off against an assassin’s guild filled with people that are almost as deadly as he is. The newest trailer shows slick new suits and gunplay even more over-the-top than before.

Fans of the first film will remember the Continental Hotel, where John Wick checked in before tearing apart a Russian crime syndicate. Upon arrival, he was greeted by front desk liaison, Charon (who also happens to be the name of the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology) and welcomed back into the fray with open arms by the hotel’s owner, Winston. The world these deadly people inhabit may be rife with corruption but it is also built on rules; with some being tantamount to any other mission or contract (like not conducting business in the hotel).

As the film’s marketing heads into the homestretch, a brand new viral site has been launched in the hopes of providing insight for assassin’s who have more discerning tastes. Continental Quarterly Magazine (h/t to CB) aims to pull back the curtain on this deadliest of lifestyles. The tongue-in-cheek site features the Baba Yaga himself as the cover of their “winter” issue, and a letter from the editor details what readers of the (non-existent) publication can expect once it launches in January.

“In this issue, you’ll find a range of articles on subjects of interest to top assassins and those who hire them. We’ll look at the emergence of tactical fabric, the intelligent choices around classic auto restoration vs. modification, and updates and interviews with some leading lights of the trade, including Baba Yaga himself, the legendary John Wick.”

The cover references a “getaway car showdown” between two classics: the 69 Mustang Mach 1 (the car that caught Iosef Tarasov’s attention and kicked off the events of the first film) and the 70 Chevelle SS (which is what Aurelio loaned John after his Mustang was trashed). Readers can also get insight into how assassins keep their killer physique, and get tips on picking the perfect dog for this solitary life.

“Timeless style for the modern assassin,” says the tagline that sits atop a layout that looks like it could have been lifted from any number of GQ covers. This type of subtle viral marketing is appearing more frequently with Logan having just launched a very different type of campaign earlier today. If CQ magazine isn’t enough to satisfy the need to read about assassins, a John Wick comic series (from Dynamite) was also recently announced, though there is no release date right now.

John Wick: Chapter 2 will see quite a few familiar faces including Winston (Ian McShane), Charon (Lance Reddick), Helen Wick (Bridget Moynahan), and Aurelio (John Leguizamo) while bringing fans new characters like The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburn) and actors Common, Ruby Rose, and Peter Stormare in as yet unnamed, yet deadly, roles.

Until then, keep checking back at CQ to see what their first issue reveals in January 2017.